(Story courtesy Augusta GreenJackets)
NORTH AUGUSTA – Cooper McMurray’s first professional grand slam capped a five-run first inning, and the Augusta GreenJackets (19-14, 54-45) never let up as they steamrolled the Columbia Fireflies (17-16, 51-48) 15-1 Thursday night at SRP Park.
The five runs scored in the first were a preview of what was to come, as the Jackets continued to score with frequency against every arm they saw. Cody Miller followed up McMurray’s grand slam with a two-run blast in the second inning, as the GreenJackets tagged Jose Gutierrez for eight runs in 3.1 innings in his toughest start of the year.
On the opposite side of Gutierrez, Landon Beidelschies stared down Columbia for the third time this year and turned in his third strong outing against them this year. Beidelschies would end the day one out shy of qualifying for the win, but held Columbia to just one run across 4.2 frames while striking out five and allowing his offense to pull away.
While Augusta failed to add on in the middle innings against Moises Amezquita, who went 2.2 scoreless in his second Single-A game, but bludgeoned the beleaguered back half of the bullpen late. Walks continue to be a sticking point for the Fireflies tonight, who have walked 10 men or more in every game this year and walked 13 hitters tonight.
The Jackets walked seven times in their final two offensive innings, and all seven men came around to score. Augusta had just three hits in those two frames, but the run of free passes led to an overwhelming offensive output that was too much for the Fireflies to stomach.
Kade Woods earned the win in relief, allowing no hits or runs in 2.1 innings in immediate relief of Beidelschies. Styven Paez and Ryan Heppner cleaned up the final two innings, as Augusta put itself in a solid position in terms of arms for the weekend.
The GreenJackets have now scored eight runs or more in each of their last five games, and have won two of three against the Fireflies to start the week. On Friday, Brody Fowler makes his SRP Park debut and second Single-A start, as the Jackets transform into the Pavos Salvajes de Augusta as part of MiLB’s Copa de Diversion Program.
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